Politics & Government

NK Voters Overwhelmingly Approve Sewers for Wickford

A total of 9.93 percent of North Kingstown voters came to the polls, with about 85 percent voting in favor of the three bond questions on the ballot.

Wickford businesses will get sewers after a total of 2,162 North Kingstown voters came out to vote in a special bond referendum on Tuesday, overwhelmingly supporting the measure.

A total of 9.93 percent of North Kingstown voters came to the polls, with about 85 percent voting in favor of the three bond questions on the ballot. The sewer bonds were posed in two questions. Question 1, which asked voters to authorize $6.6 million to install sewers primarily in the Post Road north area, passed with 1,884 yes votes and 275 no votes. Question 2, which asked voters to authorize $4.9 million for the Wickford commercial area, passed with 1,872 votes in the affirmative and 284 in the negative.

A third ballot question asking voters to grant the town permission to sell the property at 80 Cross Park Ave., also known as the property adjacent David R. Burnham Public Works Facility, passed with 1,695 votes in favor and 337 against.

Several Town Council members celebrated the results Tuesday night, saying it was a victory for the town's economy and the future of Wickford.

"With the passage of these bonds, Post Road will be fully sewered and available for new economic development opportunities.  Also, the commercial area of Wickford Village will be attractive to more diverse businesses and will once again become the bustling village it once was," said Members Elizabeth Dolan, Carol Hueston and Kerry McKay in a joint release. "All of North Kingstown will greatly benefit from your support for these economic development projects."

The successful referendums also will help the town market the former Wickford Elementary School, which appeared to be close to changing hands, with private developer Stanley Weiss proposing the Wickford Inn and Conference Center. That deal fell through last week after Weiss declined to sign a third extension of a purchase and sales agreement with the town.

In the wake of that deal falling through, the town issued a release stating "if the Wickford Sewer Bond passes on Tuesday, we will have the opportunity to remarket the property as a more desirable sewered site."

The passage of the bonds was cheered by members of the business community. 

"A new day dawns in Wickford!" said Ellen Waxman, owner of Five Main, a gallery on Main Street in Wickford.

Waxman has been at the forefront of the sewer issue, rallying supporters on social media and advocating for the sewer bonds for months. She is also the chairwoman of the Wickford Economic Development Advisory Board.



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